WWE Cruiserweight Classic Results – August 17, 2016

We begin with a look back at last week’s second round matches.

Corey Graves mentions that Akira Tozawa faces Jack Gallagher. Noam Dar faces Ho Ho Lun. Brian Kendrick faces Tony Nese.

We are in Winter Park, Florida and your announcers are Daniel Bryan and Mauro Ranallo.

Daniel and Mauro talk about the match between Kota Ibushi and Cedric Alexander last week.

Jack Gallagher says his style is scientific and submission based. He says his style of wrestling is the best. Even in the Cruiserweight divison, he is not the biggest so he has to use his mind. He will keep it gentlemanly as long as his opponent does too. It is an opportunity for him and it is a chance for him to grow and challenge himself.

Akira Tozawa says the fans motivate him to go out and be the best. He says he is very energetic in the ring and he will never give up or back down. He says his German suplex is the best in the industry. He says his strength and skill will get him through the tournament.

Match Number One: Akira Tozawa versus Jack Gallagher in a Second Round Tournament Match

They lock up and Tozawa with a waist lock and take down into a front face lock. Tozawa with a waist lock and they get back to their feet. Gallagher escapes and applies a wrist lock. Tozawa with a reversal and take down. Tozawa with a step over toe hold. Gallagher takes Tozawa down and he applies an Indian Death Lock and waves at Tozawa as Tozawa tries to get out of the hold and he eventually does.

Gallagher with a top wrist lock but Tozawa wtih a side head lock and he takes Gallgher down to the mat. Gallagher with a handstand and he escapes the hold. They go to a Greco Roman Knuckle Lock and Gallagher with a single leg take down and he wraps Tozawa up into a ball and Tozawa cannot escape. Gallasher with a running kick to the rear end while Tozawa is still balled up.

Tozawa with forearms to Gallagher but Gallagher with a European uppercut and sunset flip but Tozawa runs through and hits a leg lariat for a near fall. Tozawa with a snap mare and rear chin lock. Tozawa gets the crowd screaming but then he wants everyone to be quiet. Tozawa kicks Gallagher and a slam followed by a back senton and he gets a near fall. Gallagher with a forearm and Tozawa with a chop. They go back and forth and Tozawa gets Gallagher to flinch on a chop attempt and Tozawa with a jab and Gallagher goes down.

Tozawa with an Irish whip and Gallagher goes through the legs but Tozawa grabs Gallagher by the legs and Gallagher sends Tozawa to the corner. Gallagher with kicks to the hamstring and then he applies a step over toe hold and he falls back to the mat. Gallagher hyperextends the knee and then Gallagher with a step over toe hold and bridge. Tozawa gets to the ropes and Gallagher gets to the ropes. Gallagher pulls Tozawa back into the ring and applies an ankle lock. Tozawa with a kick but Gallagher takes Tozawa down and hits a dragon screw leg whip. Gallagher drives Tozawa’s knees into the mat.

Gallagher with a knee bar and Tozawa gets to the ropes and Gallagher releases the hold. Tozawa with an elbow and forearm but Gallagher knees Tozawa in the leg. Tozawa with a standing switch when Gallagher lands on his feet on a suplex attempt. Tozawa with a flying boot out of the corner for a near fall. Tozawa limps to Gallagher and he Irish whips Gallagher and hits a running knee. Tozawa goes for a suplex but Gallagher counters into a heel hook. Tozawa tries to get to the ropes but he cannot get there at first. Eventually, Tozawa gets to the ropes and Gallagher releases the hold.

Gallagher lets Tozawa get up since he is against the ropes. Gallagher Irish whips Tozawa and Tozawa goes down. The referee asks Tozawa if he can continue. Tozawwa with a kick and he misses an enzuigiri. Tozawa goes for a German suplex but Gallagher blocks it and hits a head butt to the chest and Gallagher gets a near fall. Tozawa with an inside cradle for a near fall followed by a snap German suplex. Tozawa picks up Gallagher for a dead lift German suplex attempt but Gallagher grabs the leg to try to stop the hold. Tozawa with a German suplex and bridge for the three count.

Winner: Akira Tozawa (Advances to face Gran Metalik)

We go to commercial.

Corey Graves is in the Control Center and he mentions the main event between Tony Nese and Brian Kendrick.

First, we go to our next match.

Ho Ho Lun says pro wrestling is his life. He wanted to be a wrestler since he was eight years old. He wanted to go to wrestling classes as a child, but he was taken to judo classes. Now he is getting support from his friends and family now that he is in the WWE. He says he will do well in this tournament and make his family proud again.

Noam Dar talks about being 22 years old and winning the tournament. He says he will win the tournament. He wants to prove he is the best. Everyone’s leg bends the same.

Match Number Two: Noam Dar versus Ho Ho Lun in a Second Round Tournament Match

They lock up and Dar with a side head lock and shoulder tackle. Dar avoids a kick but Lun with a jumping spin kick and gets a near fall. Dar with a wrist lock but Lun with a snap mare. Dar with a wrist lock. Lun with a punch and snap mare followed by a drop kick to the back of the head and he gets a near fall. Dar with a kick and dragon screw leg whip. Lun goes to the apron. Dar with a drop kick to send Lun to the floor.

Dar with a European uppercut and punch followed by a belly-to-back suplex and he gets a near fall. Dar with a step over toe hold and Lun kicks at Dar but Dar with a reverse Indian Death Lock and he drops back to the mat to add more pressure. Lun with an inside cradle for a near fall. Lun with a kick for a near fall. Dar with a kick. Dar with a drop kick into the corner and then he returns to the leg. Dar kicks Lun in the hamstring and connects with an elbow to the top of the head. Dar kicks Lun in the leg.

Dar with a kick and he applies an Achilles Lock. Dar stands on Lun’s head but Lun is able to get to the ropes. Dar runs into a boot in the corner and Dar goes down. Lun goes to the turnbuckles but Dar grabs the leg. Lun punches Dar. Lun with a missile drop kick and a running knee into the corner. Lun with a forearm and Michinoku Driver for a near fall. Lun with a fisherman’s suplex and bridge for a near fall. Lun with knees to Dar followed by a thrust kick for a near fall.

Dar with an elbow and he puts Lun in the knee bar. Lun taps out.

Winner: Noam Dar (Advances to face the winner of Drew Gulak versus Zack Sabre Junior)

Mauro and Daniel talk about the Kendrick/Nese match. Bryan says he wants to see Kendrick win because of his past with Kendrick. Bryan talks about the chip on Nese’s shoulder and how he thinks he should have been in WWE already.

Tony Nese says he is a hybrid. He is one of the biggest and quickest guys in the tournament. He says the hybrid style is an advantage. He can use his size when he has to deal with a quicker opponent. He says this is a proving ground. Everyone will say they worked hard to get here, but it is his time to show he is the best.

Brian Kendrick mentions he has been wrestling since 1999. He hopes his experience will make up for the energy of some of these kids. He is smarter now than he was when he was 22. The 37 year old Brian Kendrick knows the 38 year old Brian Kendrick might not get another chance. This could be the last hurrah or a rebirth. If he falls short in this tournament, it is for nothing.

Match Number Three: Brian Kendrick versus Tony Nese in a Second Round Tournament Match

Kendrick charges at Nese and Nese with a knee to the head and Kendrick goes down hard. Nese with an elbow into the corner followed by a flying knee and Kendrick goes to the floor. Nese sends Kendrick back into the ring and goes for the double jump moonsault but Kendrick moves and Nese lands on his feet. Kendrick goes to the floor and Nese chops Kendrick. Nese is sent to the apron and Nese with a cartwheel to avoid Kendrick followed by a super kick.

Nese gets a near fall. Nese with a punch and he gets a near fall. Nese gets Kendrick on his shoulders and Kendrick with a rake of the face and he sends Nese into the turnbuckles. Kendrick puts Nese’s hand in the turnbuckle and Kendrick chokes Nese. Nese pushes Kendrick but Kendrick with a running forearm. Kendrick with an Irish whip but Nese with an elbow. Nese with a matrix followed by a kick and leg sweep for a near fall.

Nese stomps on Kendrick and then hits a leaping leg drop and he hits a second one and gets a near fall. Kendrick with elbows but Nese with an elbow. Nese misses a boot and his leg gets caught in the ropes and Kendrick pulls the leg in the ropes and then he does the same to the arm. Kendrick with an arm bar submission and he goes to hyperextend the fingers but Nese with a forearm to the back of the head. Nese sends Kendrick to the floor. Kendrick with a shoulder from the apron and Kendrick goes for a sunset flip but Nese wtih a kick. Nese misses a quebrada when Kendrick moves. Kendrick with a cross arm breaker.

Nese with knees to the back whiel Kendrick kicks Nese too. Nese tries to escape and he succeeds momentarily but Kendrick holds on to the arm. Nese gets to his feet and Kendrick takes Nese to the mat. Kendrick with a Fujiwara arm bar. Nese with forearms and he escapes the hold. Nese sends Kendrick to the apron. Kendrick blocks a punch but Nese with a leg sweep to send Kendrick to the floor. Nese with a Fosbury Flop Plancha onto Kendrick. Nese sends Kendrick back in and they go back and forth with forearms. Nese avoids a punch and hits a facebuster followed by a boot and spin kick from Nese.

Nese goes for a suplex but Kendrick with knees but Nese holds on to the suplex and he hits a Falcon Arrow for a near fall. Nese goes up top but Kendrick goes away from the corner. Kendrick with a knee but Nese with a clothesline for a near fall. Nese goes up top but Kendrick pulls Nese off the turnbuckles and Kendrick gets a near fall. Kendrick with a drop kick for a near fall. Nese with a rollup for a near fall. Kendrick returns to the cross arm breaker but Nese gets to his feet and gets a near fall. Nese picks up Kendrick for a one arm buckle bomb and Nese gets a near fall.

Kendrick with the Bully Choke but Nese rolls through and gets a near fall with a rollup. Nese with a pump handle sit out tombstone for a near fall. Nese with a punch but Kendrick with a forearm. They go back and forth. Kendrick with head butts and forearms followed by a kick and super kick. Kendrick with a leg lariat. Kendrick goes up top and Nese stops him with a series of round kicks. Nese goes up top and misses the 450 Splash and Kendrick with the Bully Choke and Nese taps out.

Winner: Brian Kendrick (Advances to face Kota Ibushi)

Corey reminds us the final three matches in the second round take place next week. Lince Dorado faces Rich Swann. Zack Sabre Junior faces Drew Gulak. Johnny Gargano faces TJ Perkins

We go to credits.

Source: PWInsider